Ravens' Ed Reed suspended for illegal hits, will appeal

Nov. 19, 2012
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (88) catches a pass as he is hit by Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Ravens won the game, 13-10. / Jason Bridge, US Presswire

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety, docked by the NFL on Monday for repeated flagrant hits to the heads of opponents, has declared that he will challenge the ban handed down a day after he was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

When Reed was flagged for striking Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders after a 20-yard reception during the third quarter of Sunday night's victory at Heinz Field, it marked his second penalty this season for a hit to the head and neck area of a defenseless player -- and third infraction over the past three seasons.

"Ed has told us that he's going to appeal the suspension right away," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "So we should know something very soon."

Reed was unavailable for comment.

Harbaugh said he was "shocked" to hear of the suspension but that he expects to hear a decision on the appeal by Wednesday, as the first-place Ravens (8-2) prepare for Sunday's game at the San Diego Chargers.

For now, the 11th-year veteran is prohibited from practicing or even setting foot inside the team's headquarters.

It is another example of how the league is following through on a pledge expressed in October 2010 to suspend repeat offenders of rules designed to increase safety. Merton Hanks, the NFL's vice president of football operations, imposed the suspension.

"We cannot tolerate repeated violations of rules, especially rules related to player safety," Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said in a statement released by the league. "We will continue to take the strongest possible action to deter these types of violations and protect our players." 'Reed was fined $21,000 earlier this season after receiving a penalty for unnecessary roughness against New England Patriots receiver Deion Branch, who was deemed defenseless.

In December 2010, Reed was flagged for roughing the quarterback with a hit on New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees. It cost him $10,000.

If the suspension stands, Reed will lose a game check worth $423,529.

Harbaugh argues that none of the hits that drew penalties for Reed were intentional.

"They were all inadvertent," Harbaugh said. "None of those were with intent to injure or harm in any way. When you look at the hits, that's pretty obvious. We all know Ed. Ed respects the game. He respects his fellow players.

"We stand behind him in that respect, and as a team and as an organization."

The appeal will be heard by either Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, the former coaches jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to serve as appeals officers.